SOMALIA / AL SHABAAB WEAPONS

AMISOM troops together with the Somali National Army have confiscated an assortment of weapons and ammunition from al Shabaab suspects in the capital Mogadishu. AMISOM

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:34
• Production Date: 29 July 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA – AMISOM
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: 1142744

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / AL SHABAAB WEAPONS
TRT: 3.13
SOURCE: AMISOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JULY 2014, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, soldiers offload captured weapons from African Union vehicles
2. Med shot, captured weapons
3. Wide shot, AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, Deputy Force Commander Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Baraba Muhesi and Sector Commander Brig. Dick Olum look at the weapons
4. Med shot, AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, Deputy Force Commander Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Baraba Muhesi and Burundi 7th Contingent Commander Col. Ndayambaje Revelien
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, AMISOM Force Commander:
“Since we launched operation Eagle, we also launched the cordon and search in Mogadishu which is a bigger activity conducted by AMISOM troops, particularly sector one commander, which is occupied by UPDF forces, jointly, with the Somali National Army, with NISA and Somali people.
6. Wide shot, captured weapons on display
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, AMISOM Force Commander:
“Today we conducted a cordon and search in Mogadishu and we captured a lot of military equipment, which you can see here and some of it was already fixed, for example, you can see this ammunition which was already fixed to be used this night. Because of our cooperation, we captured all of them, we have also a cargo there, with a lot of ammunition, bombs and there are many guns there. I think this is a good sign which shows the international community, which assures the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali people that very soon, Somali will get peace and security.”
8. Med shot, AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, and Sector Commander Brig. Dick Olum look at the weapons
9. Med shot, some of the weapons including bombs and guns
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Brig. Dick Olum, Sector Commander:
“As the sector one commander, there is no al Shabaab on whose chest has been written that arm al Shabaab. No al Shabaab has been written that arm al Shabaab. Al Shabaab uses equipment from anybody, even if it is equipment from AMISOM, if al Shabaab gets it, they will use it. This was an intelligence tip to the sector one, to the AMISOM forces and we went and found it.”
11. Wide shot, captured weapons on display

Storyline

AMISOM troops together with the Somali National Army have today captured an assortment of weapons and ammunition from al Shabaab suspects in the capital Mogadishu.

These were seized at the Asuman Atto Garage in Mogadishu town during a cordon and search operation conducted this morning.

The weapons recovered include 151 tortoise grenades, 238 Multi- Grenade Launchers, 43 boxes of 82 millimeter motor fuses, rocket propel grenade pipes as well as RPG shells and guns. Also recovered were sipper riffles with attached telescopes, anti-tanker bombs and various types of guns and ammunition.

The AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa says such operations are part of the wider effort to improve security in Mogadishu and Somalia in general.

“Since we launched operation Eagle, we also launched the cordon and search in Mogadishu which is a bigger activity conducted by AMISOM troops, particularly sector one commander, which is occupied by UPDF forces, jointly, with the Somali National Army, with NISA and Somali people,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa further noted that some of the weaponry captured was already assembled and loaded for use and could have been used to cause extensive harm to the Somali people.

“Today we conducted a cordon and search in Mogadishu and we captured a lot of military equipment, which you can see here and some of it was already fixed, for example, you can see this ammunition which was already fixed to be used this night. Because of our cooperation, we captured all of them, we have also a cargo there, with a lot of ammunition, bombs and there are many guns there. I think this is a good sign which shows the international community, which assures the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali people that very soon, Somali will get peace and security,” he added.

The Sector Commander Brig. Dick Olum applauded the Somali people for providing key intelligence information that has facilitated frustration of several attacks by the al Shabaab. He however called for vigilance, warning that al Shabaab terrorists easily blend into communities and may not be easily identified.

“As the sector one commander, there is no al Shabaab on whose chest has been written that arm al Shabaab. No al Shabaab has been written that arm al Shabaab. Al Shabaab uses equipment from anybody, even if it is equipment from AMISOM, if al Shabaab gets it, they will use it. This was an intelligence tip to the sector one, to the AMISOM forces and we went and found it.” he said.

The AMISOM leadership has pledged to ensure continued vigilance and cooperation with the Somali National Army and the Somalis in general, to ensure that all elements of terrorism are defeated.